Landlord Refusing To Do Repairs

[disturbed_one]

i want to know if there is any help i can get concerning my landlord. Ihave been in the flat since jan the flat is in need of desperate repairs and the landlord keeps fobbing me off. My mainwindow has no flashing,i cannot open any of the windows inside the flat(not one) the kitchen is in the main flat area and i have no means ofventilating smoke, my bathroom window has been broke since i moved in. thelandlord claims he doesnt want to get the windows fixed because it is aground floor flat and more secure. I had a chest infection which gotworse and developed into bronchitis. i literally cannot open a singlewindow in the flat and cannot breath in there. i have had to stay in mymothers for over a week as a result of this. i have emailed the landlordseveral times about the windows. i told him it was also a fire hazard butas usual he is not intrested.

[MilkTrayMan]

Hi disturbed one!

Read through this 'sticky' done courtesy of Joa.
...It contains info which U should find very useful...

Disrepairs in privately rented accommodation


...

[waterbottle]

Sounds like you need to get the local council involved if you want to do anything.

The good news is that they should come round and they can order the landlord to do repairs. Environmental Health are the chaps to speak to.

The bad news is that once tenants start making complaints, Landlords usually take steps to evict them.

So, either do nothing and stay in the flat or decide to move on this and accept that he might chuck you out but you may get money and a result.

Have you communiocated with your landlord in writing or email? You need to start doing this otherwise there will be no record. He may become wary the moment you start doing this.

Are you on a low income or any benefits? If yes, you may should for legal aid and this would be extremely useful!

Get a doctors note explaining that the problems in the flat have affected your health.

Let us know what's going on, ok? Ask questions if you don't understand anything!

[disturbed_one]

yeah i have been e mailing him since i first moved in about it and he just keeps givin me excuses. I e mailed him last week and he said he would try to get a contracter out this week. he sent me a copy of the e mail he supposedly sent to the contracter and im not impressed to say the least. he e mailed me back last night just saying bear with me i will contact the contracter again. ive kept most of the e mails he has sent me about the windows. ive contacted the council and theyve given me the e mail to contact them so i shall do that now.

thanks for the help

[disturbed_one]

oh and aswell the landlord wanted to re morgage the flat and sent surveyers round i pointed out all the faults in the flat and he was refused a remorgage

[disturbed_one]

and when i first moved in a lock smith came round and was meant to put locks on the window and he also told the landlord the widows needed replaicng

[waterbottle]

How would you feel if he took steps to evict you? If you wouldn't care that much you could begin to move straight away.

Are you on a low income? If so, try and get legal aid.

Email environmental health at the local council or write a letter and keep a copy. They may need some prompting but eventually they should make a visit. Make sure you mention everything negative in the letter e.g. health problems etc. and how the Landlord's failings are affecting you.

Keep us posted with what you decide to do!

[disturbed_one]

i wouldt be to bothered if he tried to evict me tbh. ive emailed the council and got this reply:

Dear Zara,



Thank you for your recent e-mail. Please get the details as per response below from the enviromental officer: Could you call 0151225 4955 to speak to an Officer regarding this issue. Please have your landlord’s detail ready

If you wish to make a complaint, we can put it on the system as a job,
> an environmental health officer will contact you to arrange an
> appointment to inspect the conditions in your flat. It would be
> helpful also if you could supply the landlord's name and address.
>
> Can you email environmental health, as you have previously done to
> inform us if you wish to make a complaint and for it to go on as a job.
>

ive e mailed the landlord again, im gonna give him a few days to sort it out and if not imgoing to go ahead!

[waterbottle]

Well that's something to be going on with anyway...They should be able to bully him into something.

You also want to think about some sort of compensation I guess. Would you qualify for legal aid?

Did he take a deposit? If so when? And is it in a deposit protection scheme? Did he notify you of this? These questions are important because you may be able to get 3X the value of the total deposit from him!

[disturbed_one]

yeah i would get legal aid. as for the deposit i gave him 350 as far as im aware its not in the deposit protection scheme but it does say in the tenancy agreement that it was paid.

i have today recieved an e mail from the landlord saying he is sending someone round on monday to have a look at the windows. so well see if he actually does.

[waterbottle]

Don't mention the deposit to him yet but you can probably sue him for 3x the amount and most likely win. That means £1050. But it depends when it was paid and if you signed any contract renewals.

If you're happy to see what happens, just wait. Or, call the CLS and explain your matter and they will send you to a solicitor who will help you sue the LL for more. It may be an unpleasant business but it should sort things out. Already, your health being affected should qualify you for some help.

[Ed999]

In regard to possibly suing the landlord for three times the amount of the deposit, for a breach of the tenancy deposit scheme rules, read this thread: Tenancy Deposit Scheme


Advice & opinions on this forum are offered informally, without any assumption of liability. Use your own judgment. Seek advice of a qualified and insured professional if you have any doubts.